2008 Movies
Apparently, I can do a '100-movies-in-2008' challenge. So I'm gonna... All NEW movies I see this year + minor reviews:
58 / 100
(58.0%)
1. The Golden Compass (Wed, Jan 9th)
I wanted so much to LOVE this movie... Unfortunately, I didn't. The idea of animal demons following us around was interesting (and cool) enough, but everything else was just too vague, too, um, 'made-up.' It was lacking certain logic, perhaps, that would've made the world more accessible. For some reason, I found it difficult to relate to --- let alone, care for --- any of the characters. I'm sorry to say that I was close to nodding off in some parts of the movie. Best scene was the one with the ice bears. The final battle, which should've been exciting, wasn't. I guess there is something said about almost-cheesy 'let's all die for glory' battle scene speeches a la Lord of the Rings. I don't think I'll be watching the sequel.
2. Casino Royale (Sat, Jan 12th)
I finally watched this after glowing reviews from sister/cousin/gal pal. It was DEFINITELY different to other Bond movies! I liked that Bond was more feeling, but at the same time, I wasn't sure why he fell so deeply in love with Vesper. Look, I'd be the first to admit to having a girl crush on Eva Green, but she was textbook femme fatale! And, well, parts of the movie oddly became a romance drama as a result. While we're on that, I thought the film itself was choppy, like it was made-up of segments of actions that didn't flow smoothly. The adrenaline-filled first 50 minutes was almost unnecessary and I felt the plot only started when Vesper showed up. That said, I adored the shower scene ;).
3. Die Hard 4.0 (Sun, Jan 13th)
Typical Die Hard, really. Mindless and action-filled. It was interesting that the villains were blood-thirsty cyber-terrorists, but the rest was pretty much 'another day in the office' for John McClaine.
4. American Gangster (Sat, Jan 19th)
It wasn't the best Ridley Scott movie... I think ever since Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven, I'd prefer him to do more historical pieces. He handles exotic sceneries and tales of grandeur very well. Regardless, a combination of Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe could hardly go wrong. I liked The Godfather-like resemblance in Denzel's Frank Lucas and Russel Crowe's Richie Roberts was admirable, but there was just something missing in the story... It started too slow, for one, and perhaps Frank and Richie should've been made to meet sooner. The Departed made it work (withholding the meeting between Leo DiCaprio and Matt Damon until the very end), but I think this movie would've benefited from an earlier encounter, to build up tension. My favorite part was the Frank-Lucas-imitating-Norman-Rockwell Thanksgiving montage.
5. The Hunting Party (Mon, Jan 21st)
It surprisingly had GORGEOUS colors and it surprisingly had a lot of wit, considering it's a movie about the hunt for a supposedly notorious war criminal in Bosnia. I thought it was interesting that the film somewhat poked fun of other "based on real events" historial docu-dramas. However, therein lies the weakness of this movie: it was at times highly sanctimonious, particularly in making the hunt the main character's PERSONAL vendetta against the war criminal. I liked Terrence Howard though, so this movie was tolerable, if only for the wonderful aesthetics.
6. Caché | Hidden (Wed, Jan 23rd)
The movie alternates between very boring (literally like watching an unedited surveillance tape) and COMPLETELY CREEPY. It impressed me that it achieved the latter by using very simple things (child drawings, flashes, dreams). I'm not sure why or exactly how, but a veritable chill went down my spine while watching. Unlike a typical Hollywood film, this one implores us to make our own conclusions, hence the very odd ending. Unfortunately, that left me feeling dissatisfied.
7. The Nanny Diaries (Fri, Jan 25th)
Not perfect, but I can't resist Scarlett Johansson or Chris Evans. Just generally cute, fun, and a total chick flick.
8. Waitress (Fri, Jan 25th)
It left me craving for pies, naturally ;D. The segments with the imaginary pie-making were brilliant (and not to mention mouth-watering!). The story and the characters (except the husband, played by Jeremy Sisto) were unexpectedly endearing.
9. The Firm (Mon, Jan 28th)
Convoluted and long, a must-see for John Grisham fans. Oh, Tom Cruise... Here you were when you weren't yet batshit-crazy...
10. Elizabeth: The Golden Age (Thu, Jan 31st)
Unbelievably ENGAGING from start to finish, which tends to be a hard feat in a historical drama, but the script and editing were damn near impeccable. Cate Blanchett shined as the Virgin Queen, portraying perfectly the personal burden of her throne and the immense strength she must in spite summon to lead England against the mighty Spanish Empire. The art direction was astonishing; the lighting, cinematography, colors, costume, music were All SIMPLY SUBLIME. My only gripe? Perhaps they could have resisted from demonizing the Spanish too profoundly. Then again, I suppose the setting WAS during the [mal]famed Spanish Inquisition.
11. Gone Baby Gone (Fri, Feb 1st)
No offense, but I think Ben Affleck makes a better director than actor. Earlier, I was trying to defend his qualities to my dad, but I couldn't recall a single one of his roles that particularly impressed me. He should be really proud of this movie though, and, equally, of his brother, because Casey Affleck was FANTASTIC. I haven't watched Mystic River, which apparently was written by the same guy and has been used as the benchmark for comparison, because it sounds too depressing. This movie started off similarly (as far as I can guess, that is), but then twisted-and-turned into quite a compelling thriller.
12. Paris, Je T'Aime (Fri, Feb 1st)
Lovely collection of histoires d'amours in the City of Love :). Most of them are good, but I've got to say that my favorites are the three whose pics I posted above: the inter-cultural love story between a Muslim girl and a white boy, the boy soul mates, and the abused tourist in the subway. The American woman with her terrible accent in speaking French was also surprisingly endearing, as was the actress played by Maggie Gyllenhaal and her drug dealer! And the paramedic and the guy who kept singing to her!
13. El Orfanato | The Orphanage (Sat, Feb 2nd)
More suspense than horror, the film effectively creeps you out by withholding the spooks until the most fruitful moments and avoiding Hollywood's usual bag of scary tricks. I don't get scared easily, but I've gotta say that, even to this day, I still feel uneasy whenever I'm alone at night and have to turn my back on the room (I'll just tell you that it has something to do with a version of the 'hide & seek' game the orphans played). On top of the spooky, the story was also surprisingly tear-at-your-heart sad.
14. The Nines (Sat, Feb 2nd)
I dislike metaphysical, surreal stories in general and this was no exception. The only thing that saved it getting no rating at all was Ryan Reynolds, who --- let's face it --- is pretty easy on the eyes.
15. Frailty (Mon, Feb 4th)
The movie was too silly to be taken seriously and the twists were pretty predictable. If you watch Supernatural (CW), this is basically how the Winchesters would've appeared to outsiders, had they been A LOT LESS sympathetic and A LOT MORE 'religious-crazy.'
16. Dieu est Grand, Je suis Petite | God is Great, I'm Not (Tue, Feb 5th)
You know, I'm not really too sure what this movie was about. Perhaps something about how a young woman's need for spirituality clashed with her boyfriend's resistance to his Jewish heritage? Audrey Tatou was pretty cute, though NOTHING compared to Amelie.
17. The Kingdom (Thu, Feb 7th)
Surprisingly less like Syriana (government-conspiracy-wise) and more like CSI:Riyadh, the movie is simply about the investigation of a bombing on an American compound in Saudi Arabia. It doesn't go into detail about the precarious American-Saudi relationship and its link in breeding terrorism (other than a good opening montage summarizing the development of the Saudi oil business since the 1930s), which I actually think is a breath of fresh air, after several years of movies depicting US government clandestine operations. Coupled with likable --- if slightly underdeveloped --- characters, the movie was all-round gripping.
18. Magnolia (Thu, Feb 7th)
Other than a fantastic, 'suck[er]-you-right-in' prologue sequence and an amazing music selection, this movie was pretty much a waste of time (3 hours in duration!). I ended up fast-forwarding through the last half-hour. It is basically about people, connected to each other in some way, in their moments of unraveling. There was tiny bits of random events thrown in, but that's it. It was pretty much like Crash, which I absolutely HATE (why would I POSSIBLY want to waste 2-3 hours watching people hurt each other and destroy themselves?). Every one of the characters irritated me, except --- oddly --- the one played by Tom Cruise, a misogynistic pig motivational speaker!
19. U-Turn (Thu, Feb 7th)
I'm not familiar with Oliver Stone, but this was a pretty good piece of work. I like his style, with the constant flashes of images. Sean Penn was great as the unlucky sod, who JUST couldn't get out of dustbowl Superior, Arizona, after his car broke down. Jennifer Lopez... Well, she proved that she could actually act and could pick great movies before she became J-Lo. There were also appearances by Joaquin Phoenix and Claire Danes, who make a great on-screen couple, as well as a cameo by Joaquin's then-girlfriend, Liv Tyler. I particularly got the giggles though, when in one Joaquin scene, his character desisted from trying to pummel Sean Penn to a pulp when a JOHNNY CASH SONG came on!
20. Death to Smoochy (Fri, Feb 8th)
I don't know what the critics were smoking, I LOVE this movie! I find the black comedy really hilarious and the premise creative. Edward Norton cannot be any cuter as the squeaky-clean, idealist kid-show host Smoochy. I just wanted to hug that big, fuchsia, velvet tummy. Also, Jon Stewart's appearance, with his Rome-style hair, was pretty amusing.
21. CJ7 (Sun, Feb 10th)
Cute and fluffy Hong Kong homage to E.T..
22. Love in the Time of Cholera (Wed, Feb 13th)
Literal translation of the book, which --- as we've since found out, thanks to this movie --- is damn near impossible to adapt.
23. We Own the Night (Thu, Feb 14th)
Pretty good 'gangster vs cop' movie with an underlying family relationship theme. Joaquin Phoenix was great, but Mark Wahlberg could've been used more.
24. Jindabyne (Thu, Feb 21st)
Really slow to start, the movie took an interesting, haunting twist to the story of the murder of an aboriginal girl in a remote Australian community.
25. Jumper (Sat, Feb 23rd)
I'm sorry, but Hayden Christensen fucking irritates me. I gave him a chance in this new movie, but he just proves once again that his knack is to play selfish, self-centered, superpower-wielding assholes. When your main character is vapid, superficial, and --- oh yeah --- a selfish brat, it's pretty damn difficult to get invested in the movie. Rachel Bilson barely had any substance and the more serious, 'adult' actors (Samuel L. Jackson, Diane Lane) were reduced to ridiculous roles (the Jumper vs Paladin(?) feud also could've been explained more clearly). Only Jamie Bell was mildly interesting.
26. Snakes on a Plane (Mon, Feb 25th)
'Appreciated the effort behind it, but it was a whole bunch of stupid. The funny wasn't at all funny for me.
27. Stir of Echoes (Tue, Feb 26th)
Good effort, pretty creepy, but rather predictable and forgettable. Nevertheless, I was amused to catch Jennifer Morrison (when she was still 'Jenny Morrison') as the teenage girl ghost (and 'Detective Eames' in her birthday suit).
28. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Tue, Feb 26th)
The movie was suitably dark and Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter were absolutely PERFECT in their respective roles. Plus, I was amused to see Voldemort's three 'minions' (Bellatrix, Snape, Pettigrew) in another movie together :). Unfortunately, the blood and the cannibalism turned my stomach a bit, heh.
29. Chinatown (Tue, Feb 26th)
For an old movie --- which I don't often watch --- this Roman Polanski creation was surprisingly engaging. I love the complexity and the film noir quality. Plus, I found Faye Dunaway absolutely stunning (I also loved her in Bonnie & Clyde).
30. Joyeux Noël (Fri, Feb 29th)
Beautiful and heartwarming, it tells the story of friendship between groups of French, German, and Scottish soldiers in WWI when they came out of their trenches and actually got to know each other during a ceasefire on Christmas Eve. Just absolutely lovely... :D
31. The Descent (Fri, Feb 29th)
I'm not really sure why this got such a high-rating... I thought the shots WERE greatly effective in evoking the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in underground caves, but I wasn't a fan of the Gollum-like monsters or the gore. And though it is great to see such tough female characters fend off for themselves, I also must admit that I find films with only women in them slightly boring (it's probably why I never got into The L-Word).
32. Meet the Spartans (Sat, March 1st)
'Kinda stupid, just your typical parody movie, really... There were SOME good laughs though.
33. Confetti (Tue, March 4th)
Fantastic docu-comedy in the style of The Office, the movie tells the story of three couples competing in a reality show for a house and a front page cover of a bridal magazine in a reality show by having the most unusual weddings. All of the couples featured were cute, sweet, and hilarious in their own ways (especially the ultra competitive tennis couple, haha). As were the loveable pair of wedding planners.
34. Fargo (Thu, March 6th)
Hilarious, crime/caper, black comedy, classic to the Coen brothers. Frances McDormand was too cute and I seriously had the giggles every time she and other characters said, "YAH." Too funny :D.
35. 36 Quai des Orfèvres (Fri, March 7th)
Engaging police drama the likes of The Departed, it tells the story of two outstanding cops with starkly different styles, competing for the position of Police Chief. I like that the director/writer was once a cop, which made the movie particularly more fascinating. I think a sequel is in production. Trivia: 36 Quai des Orfèvres, I believe, is the address of the French Police HQ.
36. Final Destination 3 (Fri, March 7th)
Still scary third time around, the movie shows off the most creative ways for us to die accidental, horrifyingly violent (even vicious) deaths. I am tempted to suggest to the Mythbusters guys to try and 'bust' them. Nevertheless, the movie was especially effective for me, who watched it a day before going to an amusement park.
37. 10,000 BC (Fri, March 7th)
Interesting epic, sort of like a PG-13 version of Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, but also rather dull, due to the under-development of the characters. Steven Strait (who was the hot guy from Sky High) made no impression on me whatsoever. Camilla Belle was gorgeous (especially with her faux blue eyes), but was underutilized.
38. L'Empire des loups (Sat, March 8th)
Stylish, police/mafia thriller with a great cast and interesting premise. Unfortunately, it was slightly a bit too convoluted at times.
39. Marie Antoinette (Tue, March 11th)
The film equivalent of a cupcake (of which, incidentally, there was plenty in the movie): Visually very pretty, girly, and absolutely delightful for the eyes, but containing barely any substance. The character Marie Antoinette was not unsympathetic, but rather than feeling sorry for her, the movie just confirmed my disdain for the Monarchy and my respect for the French for having gotten rid of theirs.
40. Juno (Wed, March 12th)
Completely delightful, I can see what all the buzz is all about. Ellen Page stole every scene by being absolutely adorable.
41. Boogie Nights (Wed, March 12th)
For a movie about the porn industry, this was, well, kinda boring. It was sort of like a biography of Mark Wahlberg's character, his, um, 'rise and fall' (sorry) as a porn star. Nevertheless, it was fun counting the number of current A-Listers who appeared in this movie (Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle, etc).
42. The Other Boleyn Girl (Sat, March 15th)
My favorite, out of all the movies I've seen this year! Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman matched each other PERFECTLY as the Boleyn sisters. They seriously stole every scene --- Scarlett by being sweetly heartbreaking and Natalie by being seductively cruel --- making everyone else fade into the background whenever either of them was in the frame. With a tight plot and an astonishingly beautiful (yet effectively claustrophobic) art direction, the movie was completely engaging and enjoyable from start to finish.
43. La Science des Rêves | The Science of Sleep (Fri, March 21st)
Amazingly creative with WONDERFUL visuals (Michel Gondry is seriously a genius with the art direction) and a fascinating concept (dreams?), the movie was completely entertaining and surprisingly funny! Despite being effectively a French movie, Gael García Bernal was perfect as the lead, as he was so damn adorable (and not to mention sexy) whenever he spoke French!
44. Boksuneun Naui Geot | Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (Sat, March 26th)
A vicious movie, which held off its understated violence until the very end. To be honest, I don't think I can withstand ever watching it again. It was a great effort, but definitely the weakest out of Park Chan-wook's 'Vengeance' trilogy.
45. The Crying Game (Wed, April 2nd)
I'm sure this was a great, breakthrough movie in its time, but for me, I smelled the 'twist' coming a mile away. It wasn't a horrible movie though.
46. Beowulf (Wed, April 14th)
I only watched this for Angelina Jolie and she was probably the only entertaining aspect of this movie. The graphics were okay, but the characters were so bland and lifeless that I cared for none of them.
47. La Môme | La Vie en Rose (Wed, April 21st)
I can see why Marion Cotillard went home with the Oscar. She embodied the role, she WAS Edith Piaf. The story was long and somewhat dry at some points (that's probably because I'm not too big a fan of biopics though), but I particularly felt for Edith when her lover died. This movie sort of changed my perception of "Hymne à L'Amour" into a much more beautiful sad love song.
48. Dead Silence (Wed, April 21st)
Okay, I must admit... This movie scared the heck out of me more than I thought it would. Slightly superior than the typical horror/slasher, I was not surprised to find that it was made by one of the Saw guys.
49. We Are Marshall (Wed, April 21st)
It's a typical heartfelt, inspirational sport story, which isn't bad, but highly inferior to its 'brother,' Remember the Titans, due to the sheer lack of character development of its central football players.
50. Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj (Tue, April 25th)
I only watched this for Kal Penn and Lauren Cohan (Kutner/Bela! If you know what I'm talking about, then you are cool ;D), and it was what it was (a crude comedy filled with dirty jokes), but you know what? I was actually entertained! Maybe it was my mood that night.
51. Iron Man (Tue, May 13th)
After almost a month of not seeing any new movie, I chose well. This was certainly one of better superhero movies. The action was fittingly restrained and astonishing at the same time (something Transformers couldn't get right), the humor was dry and pleasantly timed, and, well, Robert Downer Jr. was so perfect as Tony Stark, the hero who grew a conscience, that he basically carried the whole movie. I certainly understand the recent outbreak of Downey Jr. love and am glad that there's a sequel coming.
52. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Sat, May 17th)
Great thriller/family drama about a simple plan gone wrong, the movie benefitted from its strong cast (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, and, well, Marissa Tomei was there displaying her boobs).
53. Los Amantes del Círculo Polar | Lovers of the Arctic Circle (Tue, May 20th)
An artistic love story about circles, destiny, and enduring love (Arctic Circle refers to that northernmost past of the Earth, in which the sun doesn't set for one day a year), it is like a Spanish version of that French favorite, Jeux d'Enfants | Love Me If You Dare. It's not exactly the same, but it has some of the same elements: childhood sweethearts, enduring love that continues despite separation and other lovers, and vague/alternative endings. This one is definitely more melancholic and perhaps not as prettily-shot (in terms of colors), but it is a beautiful love story nonetheless.
54. Mission to Mars (Thu, May 22nd)
This movie had a nice build-up, and stylistically, I liked how they kept the decor somewhat simple, reminiscent of (though in no way as good as) Sunshine, but the ending was so disappointingly anti-climatic that I felt like the filmmakers simply ran out of time and ideas.
55. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Sat, May 24th)
Though by no means a groundbreaking cinematic achievement, this movie was simply fun to watch! It's something that works by context; those of us who are familiar with the Indiana Jones series will find its action, humor, and even corniness just "classic Indy." It's not the best in the series (I'm no fan of the "alien" explanation), and had it been Spielberg and Lucas' first work, it wouldn't have worked, but, well, I suppose out of anyone, those two directors would have the LUXURY to simply have fun. Cate Blanchett was deliciously WONDERFUL as the villain, Harrison Ford looked his age, and, surprisingly, Shia Laboeuf didn't annoy me too much.
56. Hannibal Rising (Sun, May 25th)
What a viscious, creepy movie! Unfortunately, I particularly cannot stomach cannibalism, so I had to force myself to soldier through. Though Anthony Hopkins will always be Hannibal for me, Gaspard Ulliel did an unsettlingly magnificent job in portraying the younger character, convincingly projecting all of Hannibal's mannerisms and making us understand the notorious cannibal a bit more.
57. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Mon, May 26th)
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie! It's just so appreciatively DARING, not only in its subject matter (considering the time period), but also in making something that doesn't necessarily make SENSE (plot-wise), but is simply aesthetically pleasurable. The characters were fascinating (for some reason, Magenta was my particular favorite... as were Rocky/Janet) and every minute of it was entertaining.
58. American Psycho (Mon, May 26th)
Here's another one about a creepy and vicious serial killer! Christian Bale did an unsettlingly fantastic job in portraying the unraveling yuppie butcher. I liked how they made the film look its time period and I appreciated the social commentary on the depravity of 80s commercial/capitalist lifestyle. It reminds me a whole lot of Fight Club, to be honest, though of course not as brilliant as the latter in --- pardon the pun --- executing its message.
Review Rating:
(credit to passing-girl)
Film Industry News of 2008:
- WGA Strike (Nov 5th, 2007 - Feb 12th, 2008)
- RIP Heath Ledger, 28 years old (Jan 23rd). For me, your best roles were Patrick in Ten Things I Hate About You (because that was my first viewing of you), Enis in Brokeback Mountain, and being a dad to Matilda.
58 / 100
(58.0%)
1. The Golden Compass (Wed, Jan 9th)
I wanted so much to LOVE this movie... Unfortunately, I didn't. The idea of animal demons following us around was interesting (and cool) enough, but everything else was just too vague, too, um, 'made-up.' It was lacking certain logic, perhaps, that would've made the world more accessible. For some reason, I found it difficult to relate to --- let alone, care for --- any of the characters. I'm sorry to say that I was close to nodding off in some parts of the movie. Best scene was the one with the ice bears. The final battle, which should've been exciting, wasn't. I guess there is something said about almost-cheesy 'let's all die for glory' battle scene speeches a la Lord of the Rings. I don't think I'll be watching the sequel.
2. Casino Royale (Sat, Jan 12th)
I finally watched this after glowing reviews from sister/cousin/gal pal. It was DEFINITELY different to other Bond movies! I liked that Bond was more feeling, but at the same time, I wasn't sure why he fell so deeply in love with Vesper. Look, I'd be the first to admit to having a girl crush on Eva Green, but she was textbook femme fatale! And, well, parts of the movie oddly became a romance drama as a result. While we're on that, I thought the film itself was choppy, like it was made-up of segments of actions that didn't flow smoothly. The adrenaline-filled first 50 minutes was almost unnecessary and I felt the plot only started when Vesper showed up. That said, I adored the shower scene ;).
3. Die Hard 4.0 (Sun, Jan 13th)
Typical Die Hard, really. Mindless and action-filled. It was interesting that the villains were blood-thirsty cyber-terrorists, but the rest was pretty much 'another day in the office' for John McClaine.
4. American Gangster (Sat, Jan 19th)
It wasn't the best Ridley Scott movie... I think ever since Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven, I'd prefer him to do more historical pieces. He handles exotic sceneries and tales of grandeur very well. Regardless, a combination of Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe could hardly go wrong. I liked The Godfather-like resemblance in Denzel's Frank Lucas and Russel Crowe's Richie Roberts was admirable, but there was just something missing in the story... It started too slow, for one, and perhaps Frank and Richie should've been made to meet sooner. The Departed made it work (withholding the meeting between Leo DiCaprio and Matt Damon until the very end), but I think this movie would've benefited from an earlier encounter, to build up tension. My favorite part was the Frank-Lucas-imitating-Norman-Rockwell Thanksgiving montage.
5. The Hunting Party (Mon, Jan 21st)
It surprisingly had GORGEOUS colors and it surprisingly had a lot of wit, considering it's a movie about the hunt for a supposedly notorious war criminal in Bosnia. I thought it was interesting that the film somewhat poked fun of other "based on real events" historial docu-dramas. However, therein lies the weakness of this movie: it was at times highly sanctimonious, particularly in making the hunt the main character's PERSONAL vendetta against the war criminal. I liked Terrence Howard though, so this movie was tolerable, if only for the wonderful aesthetics.
6. Caché | Hidden (Wed, Jan 23rd)
The movie alternates between very boring (literally like watching an unedited surveillance tape) and COMPLETELY CREEPY. It impressed me that it achieved the latter by using very simple things (child drawings, flashes, dreams). I'm not sure why or exactly how, but a veritable chill went down my spine while watching. Unlike a typical Hollywood film, this one implores us to make our own conclusions, hence the very odd ending. Unfortunately, that left me feeling dissatisfied.
7. The Nanny Diaries (Fri, Jan 25th)
Not perfect, but I can't resist Scarlett Johansson or Chris Evans. Just generally cute, fun, and a total chick flick.
8. Waitress (Fri, Jan 25th)
It left me craving for pies, naturally ;D. The segments with the imaginary pie-making were brilliant (and not to mention mouth-watering!). The story and the characters (except the husband, played by Jeremy Sisto) were unexpectedly endearing.
9. The Firm (Mon, Jan 28th)
Convoluted and long, a must-see for John Grisham fans. Oh, Tom Cruise... Here you were when you weren't yet batshit-crazy...
10. Elizabeth: The Golden Age (Thu, Jan 31st)
Unbelievably ENGAGING from start to finish, which tends to be a hard feat in a historical drama, but the script and editing were damn near impeccable. Cate Blanchett shined as the Virgin Queen, portraying perfectly the personal burden of her throne and the immense strength she must in spite summon to lead England against the mighty Spanish Empire. The art direction was astonishing; the lighting, cinematography, colors, costume, music were All SIMPLY SUBLIME. My only gripe? Perhaps they could have resisted from demonizing the Spanish too profoundly. Then again, I suppose the setting WAS during the [mal]famed Spanish Inquisition.
11. Gone Baby Gone (Fri, Feb 1st)
No offense, but I think Ben Affleck makes a better director than actor. Earlier, I was trying to defend his qualities to my dad, but I couldn't recall a single one of his roles that particularly impressed me. He should be really proud of this movie though, and, equally, of his brother, because Casey Affleck was FANTASTIC. I haven't watched Mystic River, which apparently was written by the same guy and has been used as the benchmark for comparison, because it sounds too depressing. This movie started off similarly (as far as I can guess, that is), but then twisted-and-turned into quite a compelling thriller.
12. Paris, Je T'Aime (Fri, Feb 1st)
Lovely collection of histoires d'amours in the City of Love :). Most of them are good, but I've got to say that my favorites are the three whose pics I posted above: the inter-cultural love story between a Muslim girl and a white boy, the boy soul mates, and the abused tourist in the subway. The American woman with her terrible accent in speaking French was also surprisingly endearing, as was the actress played by Maggie Gyllenhaal and her drug dealer! And the paramedic and the guy who kept singing to her!
13. El Orfanato | The Orphanage (Sat, Feb 2nd)
More suspense than horror, the film effectively creeps you out by withholding the spooks until the most fruitful moments and avoiding Hollywood's usual bag of scary tricks. I don't get scared easily, but I've gotta say that, even to this day, I still feel uneasy whenever I'm alone at night and have to turn my back on the room (I'll just tell you that it has something to do with a version of the 'hide & seek' game the orphans played). On top of the spooky, the story was also surprisingly tear-at-your-heart sad.
14. The Nines (Sat, Feb 2nd)
I dislike metaphysical, surreal stories in general and this was no exception. The only thing that saved it getting no rating at all was Ryan Reynolds, who --- let's face it --- is pretty easy on the eyes.
15. Frailty (Mon, Feb 4th)
The movie was too silly to be taken seriously and the twists were pretty predictable. If you watch Supernatural (CW), this is basically how the Winchesters would've appeared to outsiders, had they been A LOT LESS sympathetic and A LOT MORE 'religious-crazy.'
16. Dieu est Grand, Je suis Petite | God is Great, I'm Not (Tue, Feb 5th)
You know, I'm not really too sure what this movie was about. Perhaps something about how a young woman's need for spirituality clashed with her boyfriend's resistance to his Jewish heritage? Audrey Tatou was pretty cute, though NOTHING compared to Amelie.
17. The Kingdom (Thu, Feb 7th)
Surprisingly less like Syriana (government-conspiracy-wise) and more like CSI:Riyadh, the movie is simply about the investigation of a bombing on an American compound in Saudi Arabia. It doesn't go into detail about the precarious American-Saudi relationship and its link in breeding terrorism (other than a good opening montage summarizing the development of the Saudi oil business since the 1930s), which I actually think is a breath of fresh air, after several years of movies depicting US government clandestine operations. Coupled with likable --- if slightly underdeveloped --- characters, the movie was all-round gripping.
18. Magnolia (Thu, Feb 7th)
Other than a fantastic, 'suck[er]-you-right-in' prologue sequence and an amazing music selection, this movie was pretty much a waste of time (3 hours in duration!). I ended up fast-forwarding through the last half-hour. It is basically about people, connected to each other in some way, in their moments of unraveling. There was tiny bits of random events thrown in, but that's it. It was pretty much like Crash, which I absolutely HATE (why would I POSSIBLY want to waste 2-3 hours watching people hurt each other and destroy themselves?). Every one of the characters irritated me, except --- oddly --- the one played by Tom Cruise, a misogynistic pig motivational speaker!
19. U-Turn (Thu, Feb 7th)
I'm not familiar with Oliver Stone, but this was a pretty good piece of work. I like his style, with the constant flashes of images. Sean Penn was great as the unlucky sod, who JUST couldn't get out of dustbowl Superior, Arizona, after his car broke down. Jennifer Lopez... Well, she proved that she could actually act and could pick great movies before she became J-Lo. There were also appearances by Joaquin Phoenix and Claire Danes, who make a great on-screen couple, as well as a cameo by Joaquin's then-girlfriend, Liv Tyler. I particularly got the giggles though, when in one Joaquin scene, his character desisted from trying to pummel Sean Penn to a pulp when a JOHNNY CASH SONG came on!
20. Death to Smoochy (Fri, Feb 8th)
I don't know what the critics were smoking, I LOVE this movie! I find the black comedy really hilarious and the premise creative. Edward Norton cannot be any cuter as the squeaky-clean, idealist kid-show host Smoochy. I just wanted to hug that big, fuchsia, velvet tummy. Also, Jon Stewart's appearance, with his Rome-style hair, was pretty amusing.
21. CJ7 (Sun, Feb 10th)
Cute and fluffy Hong Kong homage to E.T..
22. Love in the Time of Cholera (Wed, Feb 13th)
Literal translation of the book, which --- as we've since found out, thanks to this movie --- is damn near impossible to adapt.
23. We Own the Night (Thu, Feb 14th)
Pretty good 'gangster vs cop' movie with an underlying family relationship theme. Joaquin Phoenix was great, but Mark Wahlberg could've been used more.
24. Jindabyne (Thu, Feb 21st)
Really slow to start, the movie took an interesting, haunting twist to the story of the murder of an aboriginal girl in a remote Australian community.
25. Jumper (Sat, Feb 23rd)
I'm sorry, but Hayden Christensen fucking irritates me. I gave him a chance in this new movie, but he just proves once again that his knack is to play selfish, self-centered, superpower-wielding assholes. When your main character is vapid, superficial, and --- oh yeah --- a selfish brat, it's pretty damn difficult to get invested in the movie. Rachel Bilson barely had any substance and the more serious, 'adult' actors (Samuel L. Jackson, Diane Lane) were reduced to ridiculous roles (the Jumper vs Paladin(?) feud also could've been explained more clearly). Only Jamie Bell was mildly interesting.
26. Snakes on a Plane (Mon, Feb 25th)
'Appreciated the effort behind it, but it was a whole bunch of stupid. The funny wasn't at all funny for me.
27. Stir of Echoes (Tue, Feb 26th)
Good effort, pretty creepy, but rather predictable and forgettable. Nevertheless, I was amused to catch Jennifer Morrison (when she was still 'Jenny Morrison') as the teenage girl ghost (and 'Detective Eames' in her birthday suit).
28. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Tue, Feb 26th)
The movie was suitably dark and Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter were absolutely PERFECT in their respective roles. Plus, I was amused to see Voldemort's three 'minions' (Bellatrix, Snape, Pettigrew) in another movie together :). Unfortunately, the blood and the cannibalism turned my stomach a bit, heh.
29. Chinatown (Tue, Feb 26th)
For an old movie --- which I don't often watch --- this Roman Polanski creation was surprisingly engaging. I love the complexity and the film noir quality. Plus, I found Faye Dunaway absolutely stunning (I also loved her in Bonnie & Clyde).
30. Joyeux Noël (Fri, Feb 29th)
Beautiful and heartwarming, it tells the story of friendship between groups of French, German, and Scottish soldiers in WWI when they came out of their trenches and actually got to know each other during a ceasefire on Christmas Eve. Just absolutely lovely... :D
31. The Descent (Fri, Feb 29th)
I'm not really sure why this got such a high-rating... I thought the shots WERE greatly effective in evoking the claustrophobic feeling of being trapped in underground caves, but I wasn't a fan of the Gollum-like monsters or the gore. And though it is great to see such tough female characters fend off for themselves, I also must admit that I find films with only women in them slightly boring (it's probably why I never got into The L-Word).
32. Meet the Spartans (Sat, March 1st)
'Kinda stupid, just your typical parody movie, really... There were SOME good laughs though.
33. Confetti (Tue, March 4th)
Fantastic docu-comedy in the style of The Office, the movie tells the story of three couples competing in a reality show for a house and a front page cover of a bridal magazine in a reality show by having the most unusual weddings. All of the couples featured were cute, sweet, and hilarious in their own ways (especially the ultra competitive tennis couple, haha). As were the loveable pair of wedding planners.
34. Fargo (Thu, March 6th)
Hilarious, crime/caper, black comedy, classic to the Coen brothers. Frances McDormand was too cute and I seriously had the giggles every time she and other characters said, "YAH." Too funny :D.
35. 36 Quai des Orfèvres (Fri, March 7th)
Engaging police drama the likes of The Departed, it tells the story of two outstanding cops with starkly different styles, competing for the position of Police Chief. I like that the director/writer was once a cop, which made the movie particularly more fascinating. I think a sequel is in production. Trivia: 36 Quai des Orfèvres, I believe, is the address of the French Police HQ.
36. Final Destination 3 (Fri, March 7th)
Still scary third time around, the movie shows off the most creative ways for us to die accidental, horrifyingly violent (even vicious) deaths. I am tempted to suggest to the Mythbusters guys to try and 'bust' them. Nevertheless, the movie was especially effective for me, who watched it a day before going to an amusement park.
37. 10,000 BC (Fri, March 7th)
Interesting epic, sort of like a PG-13 version of Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, but also rather dull, due to the under-development of the characters. Steven Strait (who was the hot guy from Sky High) made no impression on me whatsoever. Camilla Belle was gorgeous (especially with her faux blue eyes), but was underutilized.
38. L'Empire des loups (Sat, March 8th)
Stylish, police/mafia thriller with a great cast and interesting premise. Unfortunately, it was slightly a bit too convoluted at times.
39. Marie Antoinette (Tue, March 11th)
The film equivalent of a cupcake (of which, incidentally, there was plenty in the movie): Visually very pretty, girly, and absolutely delightful for the eyes, but containing barely any substance. The character Marie Antoinette was not unsympathetic, but rather than feeling sorry for her, the movie just confirmed my disdain for the Monarchy and my respect for the French for having gotten rid of theirs.
40. Juno (Wed, March 12th)
Completely delightful, I can see what all the buzz is all about. Ellen Page stole every scene by being absolutely adorable.
41. Boogie Nights (Wed, March 12th)
For a movie about the porn industry, this was, well, kinda boring. It was sort of like a biography of Mark Wahlberg's character, his, um, 'rise and fall' (sorry) as a porn star. Nevertheless, it was fun counting the number of current A-Listers who appeared in this movie (Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheadle, etc).
42. The Other Boleyn Girl (Sat, March 15th)
My favorite, out of all the movies I've seen this year! Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman matched each other PERFECTLY as the Boleyn sisters. They seriously stole every scene --- Scarlett by being sweetly heartbreaking and Natalie by being seductively cruel --- making everyone else fade into the background whenever either of them was in the frame. With a tight plot and an astonishingly beautiful (yet effectively claustrophobic) art direction, the movie was completely engaging and enjoyable from start to finish.
43. La Science des Rêves | The Science of Sleep (Fri, March 21st)
Amazingly creative with WONDERFUL visuals (Michel Gondry is seriously a genius with the art direction) and a fascinating concept (dreams?), the movie was completely entertaining and surprisingly funny! Despite being effectively a French movie, Gael García Bernal was perfect as the lead, as he was so damn adorable (and not to mention sexy) whenever he spoke French!
44. Boksuneun Naui Geot | Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (Sat, March 26th)
A vicious movie, which held off its understated violence until the very end. To be honest, I don't think I can withstand ever watching it again. It was a great effort, but definitely the weakest out of Park Chan-wook's 'Vengeance' trilogy.
45. The Crying Game (Wed, April 2nd)
I'm sure this was a great, breakthrough movie in its time, but for me, I smelled the 'twist' coming a mile away. It wasn't a horrible movie though.
46. Beowulf (Wed, April 14th)
I only watched this for Angelina Jolie and she was probably the only entertaining aspect of this movie. The graphics were okay, but the characters were so bland and lifeless that I cared for none of them.
47. La Môme | La Vie en Rose (Wed, April 21st)
I can see why Marion Cotillard went home with the Oscar. She embodied the role, she WAS Edith Piaf. The story was long and somewhat dry at some points (that's probably because I'm not too big a fan of biopics though), but I particularly felt for Edith when her lover died. This movie sort of changed my perception of "Hymne à L'Amour" into a much more beautiful sad love song.
48. Dead Silence (Wed, April 21st)
Okay, I must admit... This movie scared the heck out of me more than I thought it would. Slightly superior than the typical horror/slasher, I was not surprised to find that it was made by one of the Saw guys.
49. We Are Marshall (Wed, April 21st)
It's a typical heartfelt, inspirational sport story, which isn't bad, but highly inferior to its 'brother,' Remember the Titans, due to the sheer lack of character development of its central football players.
50. Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj (Tue, April 25th)
I only watched this for Kal Penn and Lauren Cohan (Kutner/Bela! If you know what I'm talking about, then you are cool ;D), and it was what it was (a crude comedy filled with dirty jokes), but you know what? I was actually entertained! Maybe it was my mood that night.
51. Iron Man (Tue, May 13th)
After almost a month of not seeing any new movie, I chose well. This was certainly one of better superhero movies. The action was fittingly restrained and astonishing at the same time (something Transformers couldn't get right), the humor was dry and pleasantly timed, and, well, Robert Downer Jr. was so perfect as Tony Stark, the hero who grew a conscience, that he basically carried the whole movie. I certainly understand the recent outbreak of Downey Jr. love and am glad that there's a sequel coming.
52. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (Sat, May 17th)
Great thriller/family drama about a simple plan gone wrong, the movie benefitted from its strong cast (Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, and, well, Marissa Tomei was there displaying her boobs).
53. Los Amantes del Círculo Polar | Lovers of the Arctic Circle (Tue, May 20th)
An artistic love story about circles, destiny, and enduring love (Arctic Circle refers to that northernmost past of the Earth, in which the sun doesn't set for one day a year), it is like a Spanish version of that French favorite, Jeux d'Enfants | Love Me If You Dare. It's not exactly the same, but it has some of the same elements: childhood sweethearts, enduring love that continues despite separation and other lovers, and vague/alternative endings. This one is definitely more melancholic and perhaps not as prettily-shot (in terms of colors), but it is a beautiful love story nonetheless.
54. Mission to Mars (Thu, May 22nd)
This movie had a nice build-up, and stylistically, I liked how they kept the decor somewhat simple, reminiscent of (though in no way as good as) Sunshine, but the ending was so disappointingly anti-climatic that I felt like the filmmakers simply ran out of time and ideas.
55. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Sat, May 24th)
Though by no means a groundbreaking cinematic achievement, this movie was simply fun to watch! It's something that works by context; those of us who are familiar with the Indiana Jones series will find its action, humor, and even corniness just "classic Indy." It's not the best in the series (I'm no fan of the "alien" explanation), and had it been Spielberg and Lucas' first work, it wouldn't have worked, but, well, I suppose out of anyone, those two directors would have the LUXURY to simply have fun. Cate Blanchett was deliciously WONDERFUL as the villain, Harrison Ford looked his age, and, surprisingly, Shia Laboeuf didn't annoy me too much.
56. Hannibal Rising (Sun, May 25th)
What a viscious, creepy movie! Unfortunately, I particularly cannot stomach cannibalism, so I had to force myself to soldier through. Though Anthony Hopkins will always be Hannibal for me, Gaspard Ulliel did an unsettlingly magnificent job in portraying the younger character, convincingly projecting all of Hannibal's mannerisms and making us understand the notorious cannibal a bit more.
57. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Mon, May 26th)
I was pleasantly surprised by this movie! It's just so appreciatively DARING, not only in its subject matter (considering the time period), but also in making something that doesn't necessarily make SENSE (plot-wise), but is simply aesthetically pleasurable. The characters were fascinating (for some reason, Magenta was my particular favorite... as were Rocky/Janet) and every minute of it was entertaining.
58. American Psycho (Mon, May 26th)
Here's another one about a creepy and vicious serial killer! Christian Bale did an unsettlingly fantastic job in portraying the unraveling yuppie butcher. I liked how they made the film look its time period and I appreciated the social commentary on the depravity of 80s commercial/capitalist lifestyle. It reminds me a whole lot of Fight Club, to be honest, though of course not as brilliant as the latter in --- pardon the pun --- executing its message.
Review Rating:
(credit to passing-girl)
Film Industry News of 2008:
- WGA Strike (Nov 5th, 2007 - Feb 12th, 2008)
- RIP Heath Ledger, 28 years old (Jan 23rd). For me, your best roles were Patrick in Ten Things I Hate About You (because that was my first viewing of you), Enis in Brokeback Mountain, and being a dad to Matilda.